Cash box

ABSTRACT

A cash box adapted to be used in vending machines. The box comprises a container having an opening formed in the top thereof. A plate is slidably mounted in the box adjacent the opening. The plate is releasably retained in a first position, whereby the opening remains open. The plate is also releasably locked in a second position wherein the opening is sealed. The plate is moved to the second position whenever the cash box is removed from the vending machine in which it was placed. The plate can only be moved to its first position when the cash box is unlocked. In this way, the man servicing the vending machine will be able to remove the locked cash box, but will be unable to remove any of the cash contents of the same until the box is unlocked by an authorized person having the key to the cash box.

United States Patent [191 Verbeke CASH BOX [75] Inventor: Henry Verbeke, Chester, NJ. [73] Assignee: v APL Corporation, Great Neck, NY.

[22] Filed: July 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,552

52, Us. Cl. 232/15, 232/16 [51] Int. Cl. G07b 15/00 [58] Field of Search 232/15, 16

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,259 7/1952 Anderson 232/15 3,083,896 4/1963. Cairelli et al.; 2,973,139 2/1961 'L'eone et a1... 1,104,042 7/1914 Forsberg 232/15 ,FOR EIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 229,853 10/1969 U.S.S.R......... 65,828 1 7/1913 Switzerland... 357,458- 12/1920 Germany 807,880 '1/l9 59' JGreat Britain 238,481 Australia, 232/15 cash box.

[ June 26, 1973 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Peter A.' Aschenbrenner Attorney-Caesar et a1.

[571 ABSTRACT A cash box adapted to be used in vending machines. The box comprises a container having an opening formed in the top thereof. A plate is slidably mounted in the box adjacent the'openin'g. The plate is releasably retained in a first position, whereby the opening re- I mains open. The plate is also releasably locked in a secend position wherein the opening is sealed. The plate is moved to the second position whenever the cash box is removed from the vending machine in which it was placed. The plate can only be moved to its first position when the cash box is unlocked. In this way, the man servicing the vending machine will be able to remove the locked cash box, but will be unable to remove any of the cash contents of the same untilthe box is unlocked by an authorized person having the key to the isolates; we ting ri ares PATENIEB M25 I975 SIEEIIUH nwewron mg HENRY vans/r: 25 BY @WwZu/rv& Cauw A T TORNEYS- PATENTEBJUN26 ms 3.741.464

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ATTORNEYS.

CASH BOX This invention relates to a cash box, and more particularly, to a cash box that is automatically sealed and locked when it is removed from a vending machine and is filled with cash.

In the vending machines currently in use, coins are deposited into the machines and an item is vended after the proper amount of money has been deposited. Each time vending takes place, the coins are received in a coin receptacle. This receptacle is generally referred to as a cash box. Whenever the vending machine is serviced or restocked, the serviceman removes the cash that has been deposited in the cash box, and reinserts the empty cash box back into the machine.

It has been found that problems have arisen in connection with cash boxes that are unsealed. Thus, quite often when the man servicing the machine removes the money from the unsealed cash box, he will appropriate a portion of this money for himself, and not turn the same into his employer. This can result in large losses to the employer.

A solution to this problem has been the provision of alocked cash box. Utilizing the locked cash box, all money that has been received in the cash box is retained in the box until it is opened with a key. The serviceman will not have the key for opening the cash box at the time he removes it. Accordingly, he will have to turn the entire cash box, with its coin contents, over to his employer who will then empty the cash box after it is opened. When the serviceman removes the locked cash box, he will insert an empty cash box into the machine in order to accept new deposited coins. When this cash box is removed from the machine, it will automatically be sealed, and this one must also be turned over to the employer.

Utilizing the locked cash boxes, the serviceman has no access to the money that has been deposited in the machine. His sole function will be to serve the machine, reload the machine with new commodities and replace the filled cashbox with an empty one.

In the only type of locked cash box known to applicant, the cash box comprises a receptacle having a removable lid which can be locked in place. The lid has an opening formed therein, and there is a shutter plate which is pivotally mounted adjacent the opening. The shutter plate can be releasably secured in a first position wherein the opening remains open. The shutter plate can be triggered to a second position wherein the opening is sealed with the shutter locked in the closed position. The shutter is automatically triggered to a released condition when the cash box is placed in a vending machine. In this released condition, the opening remains open, but when the cash box is removed from the machine, the shutter is automatically spring urged to a position wherein the opening is sealed. The shutter cannot then be reopened until the cash box is unlocked, and the shutter is re-cocked from the inside.

This prior art type of locked cash boxhas been found to suffer from a number of disadvantages. Since the shutter is rotated into place, a substantial amount of space is required to provide the two positions for the shutter. For this reason, the cash box cannot conveniently be placed under the coin delivery chute of the coin mechanism of the vending machine. Accordingly, a separate chute must be used to link the cash box to the delivery chute of the coin mechanism, thereby re quiring a substantial amount of time and effort on the part of the serviceman.

Additionally, in this prior art cash box, the cash box must be locked into the machine. This requires the use of a separate tracking mechanism and aseparate lock to secure the cash box on the track. Another problem with the prior art locked cash box is the fact that it is extremely difficult to set the shutter plate in its open position. This is because the levers for permitting the opening of the shutter plate and for releasably securing it in the open position are completely concealed under a cover plate and therefore the manipulation of the various levers must be done blindly.

In the improved locked cask box of this invention, all of the problems of the prior art locked cash box are overcome. The shutter plate, rather than being rotatably mounted, is slidably mounted, and therefore the opening can be placed adjacent one edge of the cash box. With this placement, it is unnecessary to provide a separate chute connecting the coin mechanism chute with the cash box.

Another feature of the cash box of this invention is that it can be placed into any existing vending machine without the necessity of having a separate tracking mechanism. The cash box need not be locked on the tracking mechanism, but can be locked in place solely by the closing of the cash box door which is on the existing vending machine.

Another feature of Applicants locked cash box is that the mechanism for opening the shutter plate and for releasably securing it in place is completely exposed once the cash box has been unlocked. The opening and cocking of the shutter plate are easily accomplished in a matter of a few seconds.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a novel cash box.

It is another object of this invention to providea novel cash box that is usable in vending machines which automatically seals deposited coins within the box whenthe box is removed from thevending machine.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably locked on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate slidably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is uncovered, and said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked at a second position wherein said opening is sealed, said shutter plate being slidable rectilinearly from said first position to said second position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag vending machine in which the cash box of this invention is utilized;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and partially broken away for the- FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, and showing the cash box in its open position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the cash box in its sealed position; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cash box of this invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a cash box embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 8. Device 10 basically comprises a receptacle 12, a lid 14 secured thereon, an opening 16 formed in lid 14 and a plate 18 for sealing opening 16.

The cash box of this invention is utilizable in any coin operated vending machine, or other device that accepts coins. By way of example, a bag vending machine is generally shown at 20 in FIG. 1. The bag vending machine utilizes the cash box of this invention. Machine 20 is utilized for the coin dispensing of bags having bail handles. Devices of this type are well known to the art. The specific vending machine 20 is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 130,117, filed Apr. 1, 1971.

Bag vending machine 20 basically comprises a frame 22, a bag metering housing 24 and a shaft 26 which projects vertically upward on the frame 22. Frame 22 comprises a base 28 having levelling discs 30 at each of the corners thereof. A U-shaped beam 32 projects vertically upward from base 28 and includes a pair of outwardly extending flanges 34. A pair of L-shaped braces 36 is connected to flanges 34 and base 28 by suitable fasteners, such as nuts and bolts.

Shaft 26 is secured on the top surface of base 28 by a suitable collar, and projects vertically upward from the base. The shaft includes an angled portion 40 adjacent its top, and terminates in a horizontal portion 42 at the top (FIG. 2). A longitudinally extending slot 44 is formed in the top surface of the portion 42 and in the upper portion of angled portion 40 of shaft 26.

As seen in FIG. 1, bag metering housing 24 includes a front wall 46, a top wall 48, a pair of side walls 50, and a bottom wall 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A flange 54 (FIG. 1) projects inwardly from the rear end of each side wall 50. A coin return rod 56 projects through top wall 48 adjacent coin slot 58. A lock 60 is secured on top wall 48, which lock is used for securing the bag metering housing in place.

A coin return slot 62 is formed in the front wall 56 of housing 24. A coin box door 64 is pivotally mounted on said wall 50 by a hinge 65 (FIGS. 1 and 3) This door is locked in its closed position by lock 66.

The housing 24 is mounted on flanges 34, which have upper portions of reduced width to accommodate the housing. The mounting is accomplished by sliding the flanges 54 of side walls 50 behind the upper portions of flanges 34 (FIG. 1). The housing rests on a pair of L- shaped braces 68 (FIG. 2) which is secured to the front faces of flanges 34 adjacent the outer edges thereof. The housing is locked in place by rotating a finger mounted on lock 60 in a slot formed in one of the flanges 34.

The foregoing description briefly summarizes the structure of the bag metering housing 24. Greater detail on the entire bag metering housing and its coin mechanism can be found in may aforementioned United States Application Serial No. 130,117. The bag vending machine shown herein is shown for the purpose of illustration to show one type of vending machine in which the cash box of this invention can be used. It should be understood, however, that the cash box has utility in any machine in which cash is deposited and retained. This includes all types of vending machines, and more particularly, those vending machines that are coin operated.

For the further purpose of illustration, the operation of the bag vending machine will be briefly described. Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that a bag metering plate 70 is pivotally mounted in housing 24 by a bolt 72 that passes through the plate and is secured on a brace 74. Plate 70 projects through a slot 76 in bottom wall 52 of housing 24. The plate includes a notch 78 (FIG. 2) at the bottom thereof, which notch is equal in width to the diameter of the bail handle of the bag adapted to be dispensed by the vending machine. As seen in FIG. 2, plate 70 projects into slot 44 formed in shaft 26.

A coin control housing 80 (FIG. 3) is mounted within bag metering housing 24. Coin control housing 80 includes a rear dependent plate 82 and a side dependent plate 84 which projects perpendicularly to plate 82. The coin control housing has secured therein a coin separator and slug rejector, and a totalizer or accumulator, the bottom of which is shown at 86 in FIG. 3.

The coin separator and slug rejector separates coins of value according to their denominations, and rejects coins of improper denominations, such as pennies or spurious coins. Such rejected coins are removed from the device and returned to the purchaser by depressing rod 56 (FIG. 1). Coin separators and slug rejectors are well known to the art and therefore the specific details form no part of this invention. However, devices which can be used in the bag vending machine are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,678 and No. 2,975,880.

The totalizer 86 has selected paths for coins which, in passing therethrough, function to release a trip mechanism that imparts a stepped rotation to a rotatable element. The rotatable element is advanced a predetermined rotational amount in proportion to the coin deposited. Thus, by way of example, the rotatable element will advance 9 for each nickel, 18 for each dime deposited and 45 for each quarter deposited. Here again, the specific details of the totalizer form no part of this invention, as any totalizer known to the art can be used in the bag vending machine. By way of specific example, totalizers which can be used are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,993,581, No. 3,155,213 and No. 3,186,532.

The coin separator is positioned in housing 80 above totalizer 86. Coins deposited in coin slot 58 (FIG. 1) will pass through the coin separator and slug rejector. This device will then mechanically and magnetically determine whether the coins are spurious and will then sort the coins according to value. The coins of value will then pass into the totalizer 86 where they will be registered by incrementally rotating the totalizer shaft in accordance with the value of the coins. After vending has taken place, the coins deposited pass through a chute at the base of totalizer 86 into opening 16 (FIG. 8) of cash box 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, and to my aforementioned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 130,117, a cam plate 88 is pivotally mounted on metering plate 70 by a pin 90. A hair sprig 92 urges the cam plate 88 in a counterclockwise direction around pin 90 relative to plate 70.

A bar 94 is pivotally mounted on dependent wall 84 of coin control housing 80. A pin 96 is secured to bar 94, and passes through an opening 98 in dependent plate 84. Pin 96 is also secured to a bar 100. A flange 102 projects through opening 98 from bar 94. A stop 104 is positioned behind flange 102.

The vending machine 20 is used for the dispensing of bag 106 having bail handles 108 (FIG. 1). The device is used by first inserting the required amount of money in coin slot 58. Thereafter, the uppermost bag 106 is lifted from the stack of bag shown in FIG. 1, and pulled upwardly until the bail handle 108 is engaged in notch 78 of bag metering plate 70. This causes the bag metering plate to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. As the plate is rotated, cam plate 88 come in contact with pin 96. If the proper amount of money has been inserted in the machine, bar 100 will be permitted to rise vertically, in the direction of arrow 1 10. The rising of bar 100 will in turn permit the raising of flange 102, which projects from bar 94. When the flange 102 is raised, plate 70 is pivotable to a position whereby the bail 108 can be removed from shaft 26.

At the time the bag is removed, the money that was deposited in the coin slot 58 will pass through the bottomchute of totalizer 86 into cash box 10. The plate 70 is thereafter immediately spring urged back to its atrest position, whereby it is ready to receive a new bail 108 from the uppermost bag 106.

If insufficient money has been deposited in the vending machine, and the uppermost bag is pulled, thereby rotatingthe plate 70 to the position shown in FIG. 2, bar 100 will not be able to rise. Accordingly, the plate 70 will abut flange 102, thereby preventing further rotation of the plate. When this occurs, vending cannot take place, and no money will be deposited in the cash box 10.

The function of the bag vending machine has been briefly described above. Full details on the entire structure of the machine and its function can be found in my aforementioned co-pending application Ser. No. 130,1 17. The balance of this application will deal with the cash box and its relationship to the vending machine.

slidably mounted under lip 138, which serves as a track and guide for plate 18. Plate 18 also includes a longitudinally extending slot 142 passing therethrough. A rivet 144 having an enlarged head 146 passes through the slot and is secured in plate 14 (FIG. 8). As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rivet and the lip 138 serve to hold the plate 18 in place against the underside of the lid, and act as guides for the longitudinal movement of the plate.

An L-shaped bracket 148 is welded to plate 18. Bracket 148 includes depending leg 150. A pin 152 is secured to plate 18. A second pin 154 is secured to-lid 14 adjacent hole 16. A coiled tension spring 156 has its ends secured in pins 152 and 154.

A U-shaped bracket 158 is welded to lid 14 adjacent plate 136. A rod 160 is slidably mounted in a pair of aligned holes in the legs of bracket 158. A collar 162 is snapped into a circumferential groove in rod 160. A compression spring 164 is telescoped over the rod 160 and is positioned between collar 162 and one of the legs of bracket 158. Spring 164 urges collar 162 against As seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the receptacle 12 comprises i a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, a pair of side walls 116 and a bottom wall 118. An L-shaped bar 120 is welded on front wall 112 (FIG. 3). A lock 122 is secured in the front wall 112. A hook-shaped finger 124 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is keyed to a shaft projecting from the lock.

Rear wall 114 has a circular opening 126 (FIGS. 6 and 7) adjacent the top thereof. Rear wall 114 also includes a rectangular opening 128 adjacent circular opening 126. With the exception of openings 126 and 128, receptacle 12 is impervious.

The mechanism for opening and sealing the box 10 is contained in lid 14. As seen in FIG. 8 lid 14 is planar, and includes a dependent lip 130 around all four sides thereof. A flange 132 projects inwardly from lip 130 at one of the sides of lid 14. A U-shaped bracket 134 is welded to the inner side of lid 14 adjacent to the side opposite flange 132.

A plate 136 having a raised lip 138 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is welded on the underside of lid 14. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, plate 18 is basically rectangular, and includes an extension 140 at one end thereof. Extension 140 is the other leg of bracket 158, as seen in FIG. 7. Rod includes a large circumferential groove 166 at one end thereof, which terminates in a disc 168.

Plate 18 includes a flange 170 formed at one edge thereof. Flange 170 includes a circular opening 172 which has a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of disc 168. A pin 174 having an enlarged head 176 is rigidly secured in flange 170. A plate 178 having a hole 180 formed therein is telescoped over pin 174. Hole 180 is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of pin 174, whereby the plate may be pivoted with respect to the pin. Plate 178 includes an angled finger 182 projecting from one end thereof. A coiled compression spring 184 has one end bearing against head 176 of pin 174 and the other end bearing against plate 178, thereby resiliently holding the plate in the position shown in FIG. 6.

The cash box 10 is used by first removing lid 14 from receptacle 12. This is accomplished by rotating lock 122 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8. This removes hook-shaped finger 124 from U-shaped bracket 134 which depends from the lid. Thereafter, the end of the lid adjacent lock 122 is lifted slightly in order to raise the lip 130 above the top edge of wall 112 of the receptacle 12. Flange 132 is slid out of opening 128, and the lid is then free of the receptacle.

In order to set the lid for insertion of the cash box into the vending machine 20, the lid is placed in an inverted position on a supporting surface. Thereafter, finger 182 (FIG. 7) is pivoted around pin 174 to the position shown at 182' in FIG. 7. With the finger 182 so pivoted, it will by-pass groove 166 in rod 160, and the plate 18 can then be slid in the direction of wall 112 by placing pressure against leg 150 of bracket 148 (FIG. 6) in the direction of arrow 186. Plate 18 is pushed to the position shown in FIG. 6. It should be understood, however, that at the time the plate 18 is being pushed, the lid 14 is removed from the receptacle 12. Accordingly, the hook-shaped finger 124 of the receptacle will not be in the position shown in FIG. 6 at this time.

After plate 18 has been slid to the position shown in full line in FIG. 6, rod 160 is pushed forwardly from the position shown in phantom at 160' in FIG. 6 to the position shown in full line at 160 in FIG. 6. When moved forward in this manner, head 168 of the rod will enter hole 172 in flange 170. Thereafter, the pressure against leg 150 of bracket 148 is released, and spring 156 will draw the right-hand edge of hole 172 into groove 166. This retains plate 18 in the position shown in full line in FIG. 6. Thus, since rod 160 can move only rectilinearly, and is held laterally in place by the legs of bracket 158, the pressure of the flange against the groove 166 will not move the rod 160 laterally. This rigidly maintains the plate 18 in place.

After the plate 18 has been set in the position shown in FIG. 6, the lid 14 is replaced on the receptacle 12. This is accomplished by inserting flange 132 in opening 128 of the receptacle and pivoting the lid to the position shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, a key is inserted in lock 122 and the hook-shaped finger 124 is rotated into U-shaped bracket 134, thereby locking the lid in place. The key is then removed, and the cash box is ready for use by the serviceman. Accordingly, the serviceman will receive a locked box with plate 18 moved away from opening 16, thereby leaving opening 16 in position for accepting cash from the vending machine in which the box is placed.

When using the cash box, the serviceman will first unlock cash box door 64 (FIGS. 1 and 3) by inserting a key in lock 66. The rotation of the key removes finger 188 (FIG. 3) from slot 190 in bracket 192 that is welded on the interior of housing 24. Cash box door 64 can then be opened by pivoting the door around hinge 65.

After the door 64 has been opened, the cash box 10, with opening 16 remaining accessible, is inserted into housing 24. Mounted within housing 24, on plate 84, is a horizontally projecting rod 194 (FIG. 3). A collar 196 is mounted in a groove in rod 194. When box 10 is inserted, rod 194 will pass through opening 126 in rear wall 114 of the box. The box is slid to the position shown in FIG. 3, wherein the rear wall 114 abuts collar 196. Thereafter, door 64 is closed and locked in place by re-inserting finger 188 in slot 190. At this time, the outer edge of bracket 120 abuts the inner-side of door 64.

Referring again to FIG. 6, rod 194 is shown in phantom therein. When the box is inserted, the leading end of rod 194 will abut leg 150 of bracket 148, thereby sliding plate 18 in the direction of arrow 186. When this occurs, finger 182 will abut hook-shaped finger 124, and pivot plate 178 and the associated finger 182 around pin 174, against the urging of spring 184. As the plate 18 is moved rearwardly, flange 170 is moved rearwardly therewith. This in turn causes rod 160 to be aligned with the center of hole 172 in flange 170. Since the hole 172 has a diameter which is larger than disc 168, rod 160 will be spring-urged from hole 172, and

returned to the position shown in phantom at 160 in FIG. 6. This same position is shown in full line in FIG. 7. With the rod 160 removed from engagement with flange 170, plate 18 would normally be free to move in a direction opposite to that of arrow 186 under the urging of tension spring 156. However, this is prevented by the engagement of the end of rod 194 with leg 150 of bracket 148. Accordingly, opening 16 remains accessible as long as box 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that box 10 is held rigidly in place in the position shown therein. Thus, the inward movement of the box is limited by engagement with collar 196 on rod 194. The box cannot move outwardly, since door 64 bears against the outer edge of bracket 120. Thus, the door 64 serves the dual function of locking the cash box in place, and insuring the release of flange 170 from rod 160, which serves as a temporary securement for the plate 18 in a non-sealing position. Thus, as long as door 64 has been closed, the rod 194 will automatically release plate 18, and hold it in a spring-urged position.

When it is desired to remove the cash box 10 from housing 24, the serviceman will unlock door 26, and pivot it downwardly around hinge 65. The cash box will automatically be partially spring-ejected from housing 24 by the urging of spring 156 against rod 194 through leg of bracket 148. After the box 10 has been partially ejected from housing 24, it is removed by pulling on bracket 120. As the box 10 is removed from the housing, leg 150 of bracket 148 will be removed from contact with rod 194. Accordingly, spring 156 will move plate 18 from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7. The direction of movement of plate 18 is shown by arrow 198 in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, it is seen that the plate 18 moves rectilinearly under the urging of spring 156. This rectilinear motion is maintained by the engagement of flange 140 of plate 18 in the track provided by lip 138 of plate 136 and by the engagement of rivet 144,in slot 142 of plate 18. Accordingly, once box 10 has been removed from housing 24, opening 16 is completely sealed by plate 18, as seen in FIG. 8.

Once the box- 10 has been sealed by plate 18, access to the interior of the box cannot be had unless lock 122 is opened and lid 14 is removed. Thus, any attempt to slide plate 18 away from opening 16 from the exterior of the box will result in the engagement of lip 182 in groove 166 of rod (FIG. 7). This engagement prevents any sliding of the plate relative to opening 16 from the exterior of the box. In order to re-set plate 18, lid 14 must again be removed, and lip 182 must be moved to the position shown at 182' in FIG. 7. With the lip 182 so moved, the plate can be reset to the position shown in FIG. 6.

It is thus seen that the cash box of this invention can be pre-set at the office of the distributor of the vended goods. The serviceman will be given a cash box that has been pre-set, and he will insert this cash box into a vending machine at the time he removes a locked cash box. The servicemen will never come into physical contact with the money received by the vending machine. When the new cash box is placed in the machine, it will automatically be triggered to seal itself upon removal from the vending machine. The positioning of rod 194 and the engagement of the door of the cash chamber with the bracket 120 insure the triggering of the plate release mechanism whenever the cash box is inserted into the machine. In this way, the locking and sealing of the cash box is insured whenever the cash box is removed from the machine. The only key that the serviceman will have will be the key for lock 66, but he will not receive the key for lock 122.

The device of this invention is adapted for use with substantially every vending machine currently in use. Since plate 18 is slidably mounted, opening 16 is placed adjacent the inner edge of the box, and can accordingly be positioned to receive money directly from the totalizer 86 or any other coin chute within the vending machine. No auxiliary chutes are necessary.

Additionally, no special tracking mechanism is needed for the cash box 10. The box 10 can be used in exactly the same manner as the presently-used uncov ered cash boxes. Since no tracking mechanism is needed, the serviceman need not lock the cash box on the track, and the cash box ismaintained in plate solely by locking the door 64.

Another feature of the cash box of this invention is that when the lid 14 is removed, the entire control mechanism for the plate 18 is readily accessible and visible. The latching mechanism is easily set, and no blind adjustments are necessary, as are necessary with the prior art locked cash box known to Applicant.

The cash box of this invention can be made in any size or shape necessary to replace the existing cash boxes in vending machines. The latching mechanism is adapted for use with all types of cash boxes, regardless of size or shape. No special provisions need be made for the use of thecash box in the vending machine.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or further knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably locked on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate slidably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate being slidable rectilinearly from said first position to said second position, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having'an opening formed therein, saidresiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.

2. The cash box of claim 1 and further including spring means for urging said shutter plate from said first position to said second position.

3. The cash box of claim 1 wherein said plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.

. 4. The cash box of claim 3 wherein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.

5. The cash box of claim 3 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said 6. A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably secured on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate movably mounted with said box adjacent said opening, resiliently mounted means releasably securing said shutter plate in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, means releasably locking said shutter plate in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said securing means and said locking means being exposed on the interior of said box, said box having an access opening for the insertion of means to release said securing means, means within said box for preventing the inserted means from contacting said locking means, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.

7. The cash box of claim 6 wherein said opening is formed in said lid and said shutter plate is mounted on said lid.

8. The cash box of claim 6 and further including spring means for urging said shutter from said first position to said second position.

9. The cash box of claim 6 wherein said shutter plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.

10. The cash box of claim 9 wherein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.

11. The cash box of claim 9 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said pin.

12. The cash box of claim 6 and further including track means for guiding the movement of said shutter plate, whereby said shutter plate moves rectilinearly within said box.

13. The cash box of claim 12 and further including a longitudinal slot in said shutter plate and a pin passing through said slot, said pin and slot serving as a guide for the rectilinear movement of said plate.

14. In a vending machine adapted to dispense commodities by the insertion of coins, said vending machine comprising a coin chute for delivering coins that have been placed in the vending machine to a cash box, a housing for the cash box, and a door pivotably mounted on said housing, said door including a lock to secure said cash box in said housing, the improvement comprising a cash box having an opening formed therein for the reception of said coins, a shutter plate movably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when'said plate is slid relative to said pin, said cash box housing having a rod therein which is inserted into said cash box when said eash box is placed in said housing, said rod being adapted to release said releasable securement, said rod releasing said releasable securement when said door is closed, thereby bringing said rod into contact with a trip mechanism to release said releasable securement, and said shutter plate moving to said second position when said box is removed from said housing.

15. The vending machine of claim 14 and further including spring means urging said shutter plate from said second position to said first position. 

1. A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably locked on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate slidably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate being slidable rectilinearly from said first position to said second position, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.
 2. The cash box of claim 1 and further including spring means for urging said shutter plate from said first position to said second position.
 3. The cash box of claim 1 wherein said plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.
 4. The cash box of claim 3 wHerein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.
 5. The cash box of claim 3 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said pin.
 6. A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably secured on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate movably mounted with said box adjacent said opening, resiliently mounted means releasably securing said shutter plate in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, means releasably locking said shutter plate in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said securing means and said locking means being exposed on the interior of said box, said box having an access opening for the insertion of means to release said securing means, means within said box for preventing the inserted means from contacting said locking means, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.
 7. The cash box of claim 6 wherein said opening is formed in said lid and said shutter plate is mounted on said lid.
 8. The cash box of claim 6 and further including spring means for urging said shutter from said first position to said second position.
 9. The cash box of claim 6 wherein said shutter plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.
 10. The cash box of claim 9 wherein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.
 11. The cash box of claim 9 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said pin.
 12. The cash box of claim 6 and further including track means for guiding the movement of said shutter plate, whereby said shutter plate moves rectilinearly within said box.
 13. The cash box of claim 12 and further including a longitudinal slot in said shutter plate and a pin passing through said slot, said pin and slot serving as a guide for the rectilinear movement of said plate.
 14. In a vending machine adapted to dispense commodities by the insertion of coins, said vending machine comprising a coin chute for delivering coins that have been placed in the vending machine to a cash box, a housing for the cash box, and a door pivotably mounted on said housing, said door including a lock to secure said cash box in said housing, the improvement comprising a cash box having an opening formed therein for the reception of said coins, a shutter plate movably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin, said cash box housing having a rod therein which is inserted into said cash box when said cash box is placed in said housing, said rod being adapted to releAse said releasable securement, said rod releasing said releasable securement when said door is closed, thereby bringing said rod into contact with a trip mechanism to release said releasable securement, and said shutter plate moving to said second position when said box is removed from said housing.
 15. The vending machine of claim 14 and further including spring means urging said shutter plate from said second position to said first position. 